"Can this guy be eaten, Orochimaru?"
Manda looked at Nagato, who was receiving treatment from Katsuyu, and asked Orochimaru eagerly.
Orochimaru immediately shot him down. "No."
After a pause, Orochimaru sneered. "Jiraiya will come after you with everything he's got."
Manda imagined Jiraiya going berserk and hurling a Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan at his head. He couldn't help shivering.
Then Manda looked disgruntledly at the Six Paths of Pain, whom Shisui had dragged out of the rubble. "Can I eat those, then?"
"No. They'll give you a stomachache."
Manda made a humanlike face and grumbled, "So you dragged me all the way here for nothing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Orochimaru released the Summoning Technique and sent Manda straight back to Ryūchi Cave.
Meanwhile, after Katsuyu gave it everything she had, Nagato—who had been on the brink of death—was pulled back from the edge.
Nagato's head felt heavy and muddled. It was as though he were sinking into an abyss thousands of feet deep.
He had lost.
Was he dead?
The events of his life appeared in his mind like scenes from a film.
He, Konan, and Yahiko had met and become close during the war.
Later, during the Second Shinobi World War, they had encountered Jiraiya.
Jiraiya taught them ninjutsu, allowing them to protect themselves amid the chaos of war.
Those had been the happiest days of their lives.
After that, the Akatsuki Organization was founded. The three of them traveled far and wide, helping those in need.
Many people inspired by their ideals joined the Akatsuki Organization.
They weren't just shinobi; even ordinary people joined.
Everyone worked toward a beautiful future.
Back then, the three of them had been full of hope.
But as the Akatsuki Organization grew, it gradually attracted the attention of Hanzo of